NEW DELHI: It has informed, entertained and kept rib-tickling good humour flowing for several generations. Now it is going to do all that and a bit more.

The popular English magazine Reader's Digest is launching a special edition exclusively on conservation, wildlife and animal stories here this Saturday, hoping to do its bit to save the flora and fauna of the country.

A joint initiative of the Union Ministry of Tourism, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-India and Readers' Digest, this latest edition is aimed at creating awareness and generating funds to conserve the Indian one-horned rhino found in Assam and other parts of the country.

The special edition will have a selection of 50 photographs contributed by over ten photographers from across the country, along with interesting write-ups. The launch will also see a photo auction and exhibition on wildlife and nature by ace photographers including Raghu Rai, Avinash Pasricha, Amit Pasricha, N.C. Dhingra, Mahesh Nair, Achal Kumar, Soumendra Singh, Mohit Midha and T.N.A Perumal.

Also, the Ranthambore School of Art will be contributing its exclusive paintings. Proceeds from the sale of the photographs and posters will go towards supporting the Rhino project. The event, titled "Call of the Wild", has been organised at Hotel Taj Mahal.

Speaking about the need for the programme to highlight the condition of the rhino, WWF-India Director (Business Development) Madhur Das said: "In 1905, the number of rhinos had declined to 10-20 in the Kaziranga National Park.

Through strict protection, this population has recovered to over 1,700 individuals now. A smaller and growing population of rhino is also found in Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary. In spite of this healthy indicator of growth in their numbers, the rhino is faced with a lot of problems."

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